Meet Layl McDill

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Layl McDill. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Layl , so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

It’s always hard to tell if you are born optimistic or if you learn it but I know that optimism was definitely encouraged in my family. As kids my parents always encouraged us to try new things and then to make the most of the outcome. I remember my mom trying to keep me from being too overly optimistic about outcomes but she also taught me that if things didn’t turn out exactly right there was always a positive way to look at it. When I was learning my signature technique of millefiori in polymer clay I came up against a lot of failures but I found myself challenged to keep trying over and over and I eventually learned that I like to learn by trial and error. I told myself the mantra: “If it turns out perfect, I didn’t learn anything!” The more I live my life with this in mind the more optimistic I become!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I have been working with polymer clay as my main art form for over thirty years. I’m known for my very detailed millefiori canes which are strips of clay that are sliced to reveal tiny images. I use these slices to create larger sculptures. In the past few years I have shifted to adding more found objects and mixed media to my art.
I exhibit and sell my art all over the country. I’ve had over 50 solo exhibits in art centers, galleries and museums. I like to create exhibits that are interactive and engaging. People will spend hours looking at my art because there are so many endless details whether it’s the tiny millefiori cane slices or the interesting ways I use found objects.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think the most pivotal moment in my career was when I decided to work with a mentor when I was right out of art school. From my mentor Mimi Holmes I learned all the skills I needed to be a professional artist. I always recommend working with someone in your field that can help you get the skills and the connections you need to boost your career.
The other skill that has served me well has been being open to trying new things. I would not be working with the materials I am today if I hadn’t wanted to experiment. I like to challenge myself to always have new experiences. This year my new year’s resolution was to do one totally “novel” thing each month. This meant all kinds of things- renting an electric car, learning how to make yogurt and going to visit a dairy farm. Some things relate to my art (like visiting the dairy farm) but some just mean I expanded my horizons. This is a skill that everyone can keep working on because we all get in our comfort zone and bursting out is the only way to continue growing.
Another quality that I have been building over my life has to do with meeting people and personal skills. I used to be very shy but I now realize how much I like to meet new people and find out about their lives. I try to strike up conversations more and more and you never know where that will take you!

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

My biggest struggle is dealing with the fact that my favorite material is a plastic and plastics are not good for the world. I love to work with polymer clay because it is color right in your hands and there are so many possibilities. It’s also such an accessible material to teach people of all ages and abilities. It would be great if something could be invented that had the same qualities but wasn’t a plastic! In the meantime I am making art that uses more found objects and things that would normally be considered trash as my sort of “carbon tax”. I am also using this as a way to start a conversation about the struggles we all have with changes we need to make in our lives to be less impactful on the environment.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Headshot: Sarah Maricha White

Otter Installation view: Sarah Whitting

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